Project 365 Complete! I did it!!!

Dec 24th

Merry Christmas from the cabin!  All the cousins (except the baby who was napping) from my side.  We haven't had a picture like this in four years (three kids were not born yet!).  So fun seeing them all together.  We did the cousin exchange and the adult gift exchange on Christmas Eve.  It was a fun afternoon enjoying family and eating Mom's yummy lunch.  We stayed until the evening before heading home to get ready for Christmas morning.

Dec 25th

Merry Christmas!  All the boy cousins on Christmas morning at our house.  We work up (kinda) early and had our families little Christmas.  Santa paid a visit and presents were opened.  Pumpkin was thrilled with her purple monkey and Sweet Pea was just happy!  Then the in-laws arrived and it was time for more stockings, the adult gift exchange, more presents, and a delicious home cooked breakfast.  It was a wonderful Christmas and was fun for everyone!

Dec 26th

On Christmas morning G received a text message telling our family to quickly come out to his parents house.  At first we were a little concerned something was wrong. . it was just a present under their tree with his father's and his name on it.  As the opened it, there were John Deere items. .  .in the garage there was this!!!!  It's a John Deere 1944 Model B tractor.  He was shocked!  His mom was so pleased that they had managed to completely surprise him- not easy considering we live on the same property!  It was quite fun watching him try to start it. . .no starter on this baby!  He has to hand start it- could be a good workout!

Dec 27th

Reading a book to her puppy!  He will be a very smart little puppy!

Dec 28th

We had a great cousin trip to the zoo!  The 7 big cousins on my side went to the zoo together and had fun afternoon.  We enjoyed our lunch inside the zoo and visited lots of animals.   I pictures of the four little girls on this lizard, but this was our first chance to get a picture with the big cousins on it!  Can't wait to go again!

Dec 29th

Sweet Pea putting her baby to bed!  She covered her up and was singing her to sleep.  My girls are very into playing pretend and take turns being the baby, dog, cat, anything they think of!

Dec 30th

Family fun day!  We spent the afternoon at Boomer's playing miniature golf, driving go-karts, and playing in the arcade!  I don't know if I have ever laughed as hard as I did watching my girls golf!  They had so much fun.  Pumpkin "wins" on every hole!  Sweet Pea gave Daddy her golf club and said "I don't need this!" and then used her foot to kick the ball!  Pumpkin "accidentally" lost her ball in a garbage can.  Such a silly afternoon.  Pumpkin got to ride in a go-kart with Daddy and thanks to some misbehaving junior highers got a second ride!  I can't wait to go back someday!

Dec 31st

Sweet Pea told Daddy when he got his tractor "Too big" and refused to ride it.  Usually she would want to go back to the house since it is pretty noisy.   It is a big tractor- the seat is at my eye level.  He convinced her to take a turn and after the first turn she was smiling.  Daddy loves that her girls love riding with him out back.  Next year I'm sure this tractor will look much different. . .stay tuned!

p365- Loving leaves, bikes, our puppy, and a sweet baby

Dec 16th
I think he is trying to hide from Sweet Pea!  His head kept getting farther and farther under the couch!

Dec 17th

We have several very large trees with very small leaves.  They are gorgeous- I absolutely love them!  They provide us with great shade and make our home feel so cozy.  G however has a difference of opinion. . .he spends about 4-6 hours a week during the fall raking, blowing, and cleaning the leaves out of the yard.  The girls decided to "help" him today.  I don't think he appreciates their helping very much!

Dec 18th

Such a beautiful day we had to go outside!  The girls had fun riding their bikes in the front yard.  Isn't she just precious?

Dec 19th

I honestly do not know who took this picture or why . . .I'm guessing it was Pumpkin.  I like that it shows our stockings. . .every year people comment on G's. The story is that when we first got married and were looking for stockings he wanted the biggest stocking we could find.  I found a great website that had BIG stockings.  As we were newlyweds and broke I couldn't afford their biggest stocking so I ordered their second biggest stocking!  When I ordered stockings to be our family stockings he refused to change his!  Oh well!  And no- I do not fill his stocking!  Usually just the toe of his stocking has stuff in it! haha

Dec 20th

Best friends!  He has accepted her as his playmate and will go to her if she is around.  He knows she will be fun to play with!  I'm trying to teach her to leave him alone when he is on his bed. . .I don't think it is working!

Dec 21st

Kicking it old school!  You can't really tell from the picture, but she is listening and reading to a book on cassette tape!  The tape player in next to her on the floor and she is listening to Peter Pan!  My sister gave us these books and tapes- so much fun!  No iPod or fancy technology needed!

Dec 22nd

Waiting for Santa!  I don't know what prompted her to make her bed under the stockings, but it sure is cute!

Dec 23rd

Cabin Cousin fun!  Pumpkin and her baby cousin had fun playing under the pool table.  He loved being under there- I think he is going to be a fort kiddo!  This was our first day at the cabin and we had so much fun playing with cousins and getting ready for our Christmas celebration!

p365- A new addition to the family and a Christmas Program!

Dec 9th

Meet Pablo the Christmas Skeleton!  My students loved that I decorated him for Christmas and it brought a smile to my face every day!

Dec 10th

Christmas came a little early!  Meet the newest member of our family Chase!  He is a yellow lab puppy and so sweet!  

Dec 11th

The girls are getting to know Chase and love him so much.  He will chase Pumpkin and when she stops he will sit at her feet and wait for her to run again!  I hope this lasts because that will make him really easy to train!

Dec 12th

Another fun cousin tradition.  We make our annual trip to Color Me Mine every holiday season with our cousins.  This year the girls painted little reindeer figurines that will decorate our home for years to come.  They turned out so cute!

Dec 13th

I think she thinks he is her little buddy.  She loves when he comes in and loves to wrap him in a headlock.  I've caught her laying on his bed with him, kissing him, talking to him, and even reading to him!  Silly girl!  We will see how she likes him when he is three times her size!

Dec 14th

Pumpkin had her school Christmas program!  She was front row center on the stage so it was easy to spot her.  They sang four songs and recited two poems!  Pretty impressive for kindergartners.  She was so excited to perform with her class and did a wonderful job.  No tears or fear!  Her teacher is great and I think that has helped her adjust to kindergarten this year.

Dec 15th

Sleepy dog!

p365- December has arrived!

Dec 1st

I was SO excited this year to use an advent activity that I bought from a friend.  For every day before Christmas the girls would find a little note in our Christmas tree with a little note, Bible verse, and a token.  This was the first day's note.  The girls LOVED this activity. Everyday Pumpkin would ask when something would be placed in the tree.  I had fun putting them in the tree at different times and in different places.  Next year I plan to use the same kit, but hopefully will have my advent calendar quilt made to put them in!

Dec 2nd

The Central Valley was hit by a terrible windstorm today.  We had gusts up to 70 mph!  Not long after I left for work power went out at our house.  A huge pine tree fell down the street and knocked out the power lines.  An hour later another huge pine tree fell near my school and knocked out power there!!!  My street was closed when I came home- I had to move the signs to turn onto our street.  It was amazing to drive around town later and see all the damage- almost like a tornado had come through!  Definitely will not forget this storm for quite awhile!

Dec 3rd

Another day, another surprise in the tree!  They loved the candy that was in the tree!  I was worried they would be sad on the nights when it wasn't food or candy in the tree, but they were always excited by whatever was there for them.  Pumpkin enjoyed listening to the Bible stories- Sweet Pea is still working on sitting still long enough to hear a story!

Dec 4th

A family tradition!  When I was a little girl I would always decorate a candy house with my grandma.  She passed away in March of this year and this was the first year in about four years that we had all the cousins from my side together for Christmas.  We had a candy house building party at my sisters.  My sister made little graham cracker houses for each of the kids and my mom brought her own house to make.  The kids had a blast each creating their own home AND eating the candy.  This is a tradition that we are all happy to see continuing and I'm sure as the kids get older will start becoming a competition for the best house!

Dec 5th

The girls were so excited to have their own bells after finding the advent verse of the day.  Daddy wasn't so happy about the ringing bells! 

Dec 6th

Uh Oh someone is getting sick. Can you tell that she is smiling as she is doing her breathing treatment?!?  The girl has no problems using her nebulizer and knows when she needs it.  Such change from the first year when she was 9 months old and screaming when I made her use it!  We have been so blessed this fall/winter with healthy girls.  No major sickness and no sick days from school for Pumpkin.  

Dec 7th

"I'm Aunt J!"  This girl cracks me up!

Dec 8th

Looking at Christmas lights (you can see them in the top right corner).  There is a neighborhood about 5 minutes from our house that has GREAT lights.  We drive through about twice a week during December.  This was one of the first times.  Sweet Pea kept telling me to "look over there!"  She loved the lights!

p365- Christmas is coming!

Nov 25th

A fun cousin day at Pumpkin's favorite park!  Love these little monkey's climbing up the slide.

Nov 26th

The girls have discovered their pajamas Or "fuzzy-wuzzies" as Sweet Pea calls them are great places to hold their favorite stuffed animals.

Nov 27th

The girls helped decorate the tree this year with very little input from Mommy and Daddy.  Most ornaments are on the bottom and they get moved almost daily!  We love our family tree with memories in every ornament on our tree.

Nov 28th

Happy Birthday to my dad!  We had a family dinner at a local pizza place and then took family photos.  This will be the first Christmas in about five years where we are all together!  It's going to be noisy and a little crazy!

Nov 29th

Craft time!  We picked up little paint sets at the dollar store and the girls had fun creating with them.  I love how creative they are!

Nov 30th

She bundled herself up and fell asleep in my bed!  We love her little free spirit and the fun outfits she comes up with.

p365- Frogs, Pandas, Lakes, Rocks, and a Yogi!

Nov 17th

This picture is more about Sweet Pea's imagination than her. . .Notice the frog riding the panda pillow pet.  Moments before I grabbed the camera she had then galloping around the kitchen!  Too cute!

Nov 18th

They love to dress up!  Too cute!  I think an Aunt was over here helping them complete these outfits.

Nov 19th

I think someone may have watched Mommy do yoga too many times!  Nice Downward Dog!  Maybe it's time for a bigger yoga mat!

Nov 20th

On our way to the cabin!  Or as she calls it the "nabin!"  

Nov 21st

Shaver lake is having work done on the dam and so they have lowered the water level.  Notice right above their heads is the old rock dam that has been under water for over 90 years!  I hear the lake will be lowered even more. . .can't wait to see it!

Nov 22nd

We love the cabin!  Enjoying our lazy days as a family at the cabin.  There was a little snow- not enough to do much with so we played games, watched movies, and played as a family inside.

Nov 23rd

G was invited to play Floor Rockey at NFC on the alumni team.  We spent the about 6-7 years as staff for the youth ministries at this church before our kids were born.  Floor Rockey is a fun high school tradition and it was great to go back.  The almuni team which I dubbed the "ROCK Stars" dominated and won the tournament!  G was their goalie for most games and never had a goal scored on him!  Can't wait for next year!  Thanks for the invite KR! 

Nov 24th

Over my Thanksgiving break I borrowed my nieces Hunger Games trilogy.  Pumpkin decided she also wanted to read them.  Do you think it is an appropriate book for a kindergarten book report?  haha

p365- Random November memories!

Nov 9th

The girls and I went to CUSD's Band Night.  All ten (can you believe there are ten now?!?!) intermediate and high school bands performed.  My oldest niece performed with Kastner.  If you look closely she is in the front on the right playing flute with red sleeves.  

Nov 10th

Getting in the car from school and she told me "this is my slingshot!"  I was laughing and thinking how proud Daddy would be of her imagination!

Nov 11th

Now it's Pumpkin's turn to not feel well.  Mommy of the year award goes to me.  She was telling me she didn't want to eat and was cold.  I told her she had to eat and unfortunately she proved that she really didn't feel well by ruining her dinner.  Hopefully the sickies will leave our family for awhile!

Nov 12th

Playing out back with our friends!  

Nov 13th

While Daddy and his friends cut down some trees on our property our nephews got to help.  I've seen my husband ride on the forks of the forklift many times.  Apparently it's a family trait!  These are two of my nephews riding the forks!

Nov 14th

Sweet Pea loves to feel the fan blow her hair!  She knows she is not supposed to but sometimes its hard to resist!

Nov 15th

Look who has Huggy Bear again!!!  She was so excited to have him home again!  

Nov 16th

Another Mommy project!  I'm so excited it is almost done!  I just have to add the large numbers on the side and fix the cloud at the top.  This is a growth chart to hang in my laundry room.  Keepsake and a cute decoration!